The BPMA is pleased to announce it has received a substantial donation of £70,000 from the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS). The donation, raised from the sale of shares during the Royal Mail privatisation process, will go towards the BPMA’s fundraising project for a new museum in Central London.

The Postal Museum, due to open in 2016, will bring the BPMA’s Archive and Museum Collections together for the first time, providing a living heritage space at the heart of a diverse community and strengthening people’s understanding of their personal and collective heritage through the extraordinary tales of the postal service.

Michael Fallon, Minister for Business and Postal Affairs at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said:

“Over 700,000 members of the public and Royal Mail employees purchased shares through the Royal Mail Share Offer. As stated in the Prospectus, amounts less than the Offer Price of one Ordinary Share have not been refunded but will be given to charity. Approximately £70,000 will be donated to the British Postal Museum and Archive.”

The BPMA continues to fundraise for a new, national home containing 5 permanent exhibition galleries and a temporary exhibition space. As part of the project, the BPMA plans to open up a section of Mail Rail, the old Post Office Underground Railway to the public for the first time in the network’s history, including a ride on a 1km loop of original tunnels under Mount Pleasant.